Lalilolou
- Date posted
- 2y
Real Event Fear
Does anyone else struggle with being publicly shamed and cancelled for your mistakes in the future? It feels so intolerable for me and it’s my biggest fear. Does anyone have any advice?
Jeffrey Jeffrey
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
Yes indeed. I am sorry you are dealing with this - and I can empathize with you. With ERP therapy and lots of practice I have learned how to live with the intrusive thoughts. Not knowing where you are in your ERP journey I will give you an example of how I might handle your situation. If this seems like it is too difficult then don’t do it - I am in recovery but I want to respect the fact that not everyone is there and so I offer my suggestion only. When I get the intrusive thought that I am going ti be humiliated and shamed for something that has happened in my past, I acknowledge the thought as intrusive and then I go into response prevention mode. I might say something like well that’s interesting or thanks for nothing ocd. Or I will agree with the thought and say yes this could definitely happen but all I have is this moment and guess what it is not happening in this moment so I am going ti live my life and IF you are right ocd I will need only deal with it then. Until then I live in the present moment because that is all that I have. Again, this is not easy and I have gotten there with a lot of practice l, but it works. Does the anxiety disappear - nope. What has changed is my response - the anxiety is still there it is just that I don’t give it the weight it once had. I hope this helps you.
LalilolouLalilolou
- Date posted
- 2y
@Jeffrey Yes it does thank you! Will the anxiety go away the more you practice that?
LalilolouLalilolou
- Date posted
- 2y
@Lalilolou I read your bio and my trigger for OCD was exactly the same😭 how long did it take you to recover?
Jeffrey Jeffrey
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 2y
@Lalilolou It doesn’t necessarily go away but it is more manageable.
LalilolouLalilolou
- Date posted
- 2y
@Jeffrey Good to know thank you!
adelinesdragonadelinesdragon
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 2y
I can definitely see how this could be triggering. Remember that these fears are just like any other OCD thought. OCD is working to get your attention. It plays to what it knows will scare you. Say something back to the thought like, “maybe I will be publicly shamed, maybe I won’t. Maybe I will get publicly cancelled, maybe I won’t. Worrying about it won’t help me figure it out.” Sitting in this uncertainty will help ease the power of OCD. This is a great article with some helpful info :) https://www.turningpointpsychology.ca/blog/real-event-ocd?format=amp
LalilolouLalilolou
- Date posted
- 2y
@adelinesdragon Thank you😭 it just feels like if that happens my life will be over Ans it will make my worst fears come true😭
KevinLKevinL
- Date posted
- 2y
Yea I feel like cancel culture is a big trigger for me
Stardust777Stardust777
- Date posted
- 2y
Yup….
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- Date posted
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